Chikura Onsen Chikurakan

Due to my daughter's work, we urgently searched for accommodation in Tateyama and stayed at Chikurakan. The wallpaper in the room was blue, but there were noticeable scratches and peeling here and there. A white color might give a cleaner impression. The futon was quite thin, making my body stiff. Also, the air conditioner stopped blowing air, and although a staff member fixed it for us, it only worked at 22 degrees Celsius, so we shivered through the night (laughs). As for the baths: the smaller one is 100% natural hot spring with lukewarm water; the larger one is 50% natural hot spring with hotter water. Alternating between them warmed up our bodies wonderfully. However, the steps of the smaller bath were slippery—many guests seemed to have dangerous slips. My daughter and I also hit our arms hard; this should be addressed somehow.For meals, we had a course that included spiny lobster along with abalone and large clams—all very delicious overall! The freshly cooked rice was also satisfying.Lastly, if I may add: all staff members lacked friendliness—they seemed to speak strictly according to manuals without conveying any sense of hospitality toward guests, which was disappointing.

The meals were highly satisfying. The fresh seafood platter was impressive, but I believe the turban shell would have been better as grilled in its shell, and the abalone steamed with sake for enhanced flavor, texture, and presentation. Although the room attendant's Japanese was a bit hesitant, their hospitality conveyed warmth and created a sense of closeness. Having stayed in many accommodations with open-air baths across Japan, this experience was well-balanced and thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you very much!